Editor’s Note: To help you dominate your rookie drafts, this series will feature a look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of over 40 dynasty rookie draft prospects and run all through the month of May and even into June. We’ll cover all the premier prospects but also give you critical information on some of the lesser known talents. All of these rookie updates will be loaded into our ever-evolving 2018 Rookie Draft Guide – the ultimate resource for dynasty enthusiasts all over the world.
Name: Daurice Fountain
Position: Wide Receiver
Pro Team: Indianapolis Colts
College Team: Northern Iowa
Draft Status: Round Five, Pick No. 159 Overall
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PRO DAY REVIEW
- Height: 6′ 1 1/2″
- Weight: 204 Pounds
- 40-Yard Time: 4.46
- Hands: 9 1/2”
- Arm Length: 34 1/2’’
- Bench Press (225 Pounds): 14
- Broad Jump: 121”
- Vertical: 42.5’’
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STRENGTHS
- East-West Shrine game MVP
- Acceleration
- Elite leaper
- Run-after-catch ability
- Physicality
- Plus route-running footwork
WEAKNESSES
- One-year wonder
- Sub-par conference
- Unorthodox running style
- Below-average ball skills
- Tends to disappear in games
- Route maturity
OPPORTUNITIES
The Colts need bodies at the receiver position and only have veterans T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Grant and Chester Rogers in addition to a smattering of others. The Colts also selected rookie receiver Deon Cain (Clemson) later in the draft. The relative youth and lack of established talent should provide Fountain with an opportunity to stick on the roster and develop over time.
THREATS
Fountain couldn’t have landed in a better situation as far as positional threats given the youth currently on the roster. Fellow rookie Deon Cain carries slightly better size and played at Clemson, within a collegiate conference carrying far greater respect, but doesn’t have the dynamic that Fountain does. His greatest obstacle will be the leap to the next level as a one-year wonder out of Northern Iowa. The NFL is littered with the bodies of intriguing receivers that couldn’t transition to the professional game.
SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS
Fountain is a high-character and hard-working athlete such that he should flash in training camp. He’s likely too raw to see the field on anything other than occasional four-wide sets. Dynasty owners will need to be patient as Fountain attempts to make the leap to the NFL-game where he’ll be forced to develop quickly or fall from the roster. Without major progress in training camp, Fountain could spend the year on the practice squad.
LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS
Daurice Fountain’s long term prospects are difficult to project due to his relative collegiate anonymity. To wit, he was widely considered one of the higher-profile 2018 NFL Combine snubs, having to instead showcase his skills at Northern Iowa’s pro-day, attended by 27 NFL teams, mostly there to observe Fountain. What followed was a solid performance which secured his status as a day-three selection, some scouts believing he could sneak into day-two consideration. While Fountain was a noted hurdler in college, the NFL hurdle will be the highest to clear for the young prospect. Long term success rates for receivers like Daurice Fountain are simply not good but he possesses the character and work ethic to maximize the opportunity.
NFL COMPARISON
Fountain doesn’t have clear NFL comparison that sticks out. His unorthodox run-style, which doesn’t always show on film, makes a comparison difficult. That said, if I were to select a high-profile NFL receiver that Fountain could compare favorably with, it’s that of DeAndre Hopkins. Not exceptionally sized nor exceptionally explosive across all phases of the game, Fountain and Hopkins share the same basic size, use of hands and the ability to be deceptive in their routes. It’s a stretch, of course, to compare Fountain the Hopkins as a fifth round selection, but there are some similarities present that provide a level of intrigue.
PROJECTED RANGE FOR ROOKIE DRAFTS
Daurice Fountain currently sits as the WR18 on DLF’s Rookie Receiver Rankings and the R42 (42nd ranked) on DLF’s Top 50 Overall Rookie Rankings. His current ADP (236) clearly shows he’s a deep prospect with a very uncertain future. In rookie drafts I’ve been involved in, Fountain has been a solid fourth round selection in most drafts, slipping into the back end of the third round on occasion.
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You can find Jeff on Twitter at @dlf_jeff
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Good write up Jeff. I’m targeting DF in our draft. Appreciate the insight.
